A Formal Theory of Relational Non-Equilibrium: Inefficiency of Equilibrium and a Dynamical Theory of Love and Happiness

We propose a unified formal framework in which diverse phenomena such as physical forces, success, stress, happiness, and romantic relationships are described by a common non-equilibrium structure. All states are represented as the difference between two symmetric relational quan- tities. Equilibrium corresponds to the vanishing of the state variable, yet is shown to be dy- namically inefficient. In particular, we formulate love not as emotional magnitude but as the temporal relaxation of relational imbalance. This approach explains why happiness and stable relationships are structurally difficult to achieve and maintain.